Europe vs Hawaii with a 17 yr. old

Assuming that you will fly back? What is your port of departure in the USA? That's a quick trip by boat.

Assume Kansas City would be departure point. Why would either choice be a mistake? Some will suggest that the cruise is a mistake but for a quick hit in Europe, the cruise provides some real advantages and cost savings. I would do the cruise as far more interesting. Hawaii and Europe are not equal choices.

Europe, hands down. Having never traveled to Europe until I was in my 30's, I would highly recommend exposing your son to the history and everything Europe has to offer as early as possible. It can really change a person!

I am not 17, but if someone asked me this question, I would hands down choose a cruise to Europe over a trip to Hawaii any day.

As best I can recall, the summer I was 17 I was more interested in girls in bikinis than just about anything else. I actually got paid to lifeguard at the local country club. Your son might enjoy the beaches and girls of Maui more than anything, with a visit to Pearl Harbor along the way to scratch the history itch.

Lori, I like both choices, but specially as your Son "likes history and is very intelligent", I believe Europe would be a more interesting trip for him. There's a LOT of history all over Europe, and exposure to the different cultures and languages would probably be very interesting for him. With such a short cruise, he'll only be able to view a small "sample" of the history though, as visiting a new port each day will only allow a few hours and a "quick look" in each place. You'll need to plan your day touring carefully, and if you're planning on taking any day tours offered by the cruise line, you'll need to budget for those as they're usually not cheap! As someone else suggested, it would probably be a good idea to ask your Son. Give him the pros & cons of each choice and get his input. He'll probably enjoy the trip a lot more if he's allowed some choice in the decision-making. I have three Sons so I know what happens when parents try to "dictate" things to teenagers in that age group! Cheers!

I can't imagine any advantages or cost savings by taking a cruise.

Hawaii is fun all the time but I go to Europe every summer.

Regardless of interest, I wouldn't think a cruise would be right for a 17 yr old. I always hear horror stories about those. That seems more appropriate for a young family needing distractions or an older couple looking for an easy way to see the world. Regardless of his intelligence, a teen is a teen and a beach would be best. Have you considered renting a house for a week on a Greek island or even the Carribean? Also, Provence has both beaches and history. A week in a condo in Antibes would be truly unforgetable. Also, a week in a big city is always a good choice: Rome is my favorite and beaches are a 30min train ride away. Also your cruise itinerary sounds very painful. As a rule, I never spend less than 3 nights in 1 location (but I think most here argue 2).

What are his thoughts?

Can I ask why you are considering a cruise? Your son would experience a lot more of Europe if you took a 7-day trip to Spain or Italy. I was 17 the first time I went to Europe (Italy for one week with my high school art history class) and I was hooked.

People who have never been on cruises are often quick to criticize as I told you they would or question why would you want to do THAT. There are many advantages and cost savings to cruises but the is not the question. Want to discuss it, send a PM.

Thank you all so much for your time and thoughtfulness! I have not asked my son because I would like it to be a surprise for Christmas and his b-day. We would hit a beach in Barcelona and maybe Messina. I just wonder if there would be kids his age to hang with on the ship at night or would I have to leave the disco and hang with him? Think of it: Pompeii, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Rome, the history, the art etc.Will it be my dream come true while dragging him around? Maybe I had better ask him...

Danger ahead, Lori. As a rule, 17 yo boys do not like any surprises from their Mom. Get him in the loop before you head into murky waters. From the heart..................

Given the new details, I would rough together both trips and put each in a separate box with a bow and let him open both. Then tell him he can chose one but that decision is not needed for a week or two so he can think about it. If my sons, they would chose the cruise in a heart beat.

Now that is an idea. The surprise would not be ruined and the option is there. I am beginning to think I might just tell him we are going on a European cruise! He would be thrilled and never know about option 2 ( Hawaii). Heck, I'm paying and that is where I really want to go! Still pondering...

A cruise...with a bunch of old fxxts???!!! Seriously, the cruise line you pick is criticial. (and I am speaking from experience.) Maybe a Windjammer cruise on sail boat would interest him, but, most of the cruise lines are really not geared for someone his age. PLEASE involve him in this decision. (PS Windjammer does this area. we have friends that love them and are currently planing a trip with a similar itinerary.) Hawaii, for a 17 year old would be heaven. The beaches; the girls, oh Gawd! But don't under estimate the fun a road/rail trip thru Europe would provide both of you. I love the idea of giving him the gift of his choice, and then letting him help plan the trip. Have fun...you sound like a wonderful Mom!

Hawaii. I was in Maui for 19 days a few years ago. Hawaii is a teenager's paradise. I know this board is supposed to steer you to Italy, and I LOVE ITALY, but Italy is complex and more of a mental vacation away from the ordinary. Hawaii is just plain fun and doesn't require a lot of thinking to be enjoyed. Though it is a state, it is still very much like another country. Maui is changing rapidly and your son will later in life appreciate seeing and experiencing it now rather than later in life. Italy will always be Italy.

" Heck, I'm paying and that is where I really want to go!" Now we're getting somewhere...

LOL, Nigel! I said it, didn't I! I also liked the comment about letting him "tag" along. Really do not think it is a good idea to let the kid stay home that long alone. I'm going to google the Windjammer cruise. I'd like to be an exchange "student" and stay with a family in Sorrento, Italy. I'm a teacher. Wonder if they need an English teacher that does not speak Italian! Ha ha. My son could work at a McDonald's there just as he does here.

Lori, it sounds like YOU want a cruise. But if you want to travel with your son, I suggest the European trip (based on what you've told us about him) and I strongly suggest an on-the-ground trip. Seven days isn't very long; I'd do something like Rome and Florence, or wherever HE'D like to go. It'll be much more meaningful if he's heavily involved in the planning process. That makes it HIS trip, too. Not just 'some stupid cruise my mom dragged me on'...The idea of port calls makes my skin crawl, I have to admit. If it's some hard-to-access place, that's one thing. I'd love to take an Avalon cruise on the Rhein and Danube someday. But that would be a completely different kind of experience than all of my previous sight-seeing-type travels. I think this trip with your son should be more of a sight-seeing-type trip. To see and experience Italy, I firmly believe you need to be IN Italy. But that's just my oh-so-humble opinion...;-) I strongly encourage you two to make the effort to make this trip happen. IF you're apprehensive about planning a 'land' trip on your own, just come back here for help and advice. Really, it's not that difficult. Promise!!!

Hi Lori, I would go to Europe. When he gets back from the trip, he can tell his friend he has been to Europe and "brag" about the places he has been. The lure of Hawaii are the beaches but he can get those in Europe. I know my stepson loves telling his friends he has lived in Europe, beats Hawaii anyday! Have fun!
Amanda

This is going to sound horrible. Hawaii is a dangerous place for a white teen boy. I grew up surfing in San Diego, many of my friends returned from their trips to Hawaii with broken arms, broken jaws, fractured eye sockets, and various stiched up cuts. True, they had the audacity to actually surf in Hawaii. Because of that, I didn't visit Hawaii until I was a Lt. in the Air Force. A group of us went out one night in the Waikiki area. I stayed later than my friends. On the way home, there were groups of locals on street corners. I didn't think about it at all until I walked past one of the groups and they started saying, "Watch out Hali," in a threatening way. I immediately hooked up with a pair of Marines and their wives until I was close enough to the hotel to get there safely. Hawaii may be fine if you stay well inside the secured tourist facilities. It's no place to explore on your own, least of all if you are young, male and caucasian.

Unfortunately, with a cruise, you see very little of the destination at each port of call. At 17, I would have preferred Hawaii. Being cooped up on a cruise ship, even to this day, is not not my kind of fun. Europe needs to be taken in slowly and not in a mad dash off of a cruise ship. The whole idea with the cruise industry is to keep you on the ship as long as possible where you will be spending money with THEM.

Both. It is dice roll. Buy when you think the price is reasonable. Like the stock market, the probability of buying at the cheapest price is very, very low.

Thanks for all of the replies.
Another thing I was wondering about is booking the flight now. We would travel in July. Do the flights usually get cheaper or more expensive as timing gets closer to flying.

One reason to wait a little longer before buying tickets for July is that no airline is doing any significant discounts this far ahead. That's no guarantee that there will be discounts in the future, but I'm still holding off on buying my tickets to Italy for our trip in May. A travel agent I trust suggested waiting until after the first of the year. But it's true that there are no guarantees on what pricing will do.